Scottish Executive

Air Services

Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to promote the establishment of a single airport for central Scotland.

Lewis Macdonald: We are currently engaged in an extensive consultation on the future development of air transport. It would be wrong to prejudge the outcome of this process. We have no predetermined view on how best to provide additional airport capacity and we are keen to hear the views of all stakeholders.

Alcohol Misuse

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether adequate alcohol detoxification services are in place.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: Home, community and residential alcohol detoxification services are available across Scotland. The Executive's Plan for Action on alcohol problems , which was published on 18 January, acknowledges the need to improve alcohol problems services and fill gaps in current provision, including detoxification, if this is appropriate. It requires local Alcohol Action Teams to assess needs in their areas and produce plans to address these by April 2003. The Executive issued a framework for support and treatment services in September to act as a guide for local plans.

Alcohol Misuse

Mr Keith Raffan (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take to tackle binge drinking, particularly among younger women, and when it plans to seek a parliamentary debate on its Plan for Action on alcohol problems .

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The Executive's Plan for Action on alcohol problems , published in January, sets out a range of measures to reduce alcohol-related harm in Scotland. Reducing binge drinking is one of the two key priorities of the plan and the How Much is Too Much? national communications strategy, launched in April, specifically targets male and female binge drinkers in the 18 to 35 age range. The plan requires Alcohol Action Teams to assess needs in their areas and produce local prevention and communications strategies to address these by April 2003. At present we have no plans for a parliamentary debate.

Asylum Seekers

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give assurances that the children of asylum seekers living in Scotland will continue to be educated in existing state-sector schools and not through separate, segregated education.

Cathy Jamieson: Immigration and asylum matters are reserved to the UK Government.

Bridges

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on the plans for a new road bridge across the River Forth at Kincardine.

Lewis Macdonald: I expect to announce the preferred route for the new crossing next month.

Care of Elderly People

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Executive will assess the demand for free personal care for the elderly in the Highlands and other local authority areas.

Mr Jack McConnell: We are confident that the total provision for implementing this policy is sufficient to enable all local authorities to meet their commitments to existing self-funding residents at 31 March 2002, replace lost income following the ending of charges for personal care and meet additional demand stimulated by the policy .

Care of Elderly People

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what concerns it has regarding the funding of free personal care for elderly people.

Mr Frank McAveety: The Executive is confident that provision for implementing this policy is sufficient to enable all local authorities to meet their commitments to existing self-funding residents at 31 March 2002, replace lost income following the ending of charges for personal care and meet additional demand stimulated by the policy.

Child Welfare

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to improve services to children at risk.

Cathy Jamieson: Improving services for all children, especially those at risk, is a key priority for the Scottish Executive. The Cabinet Sub-Committee on Children's Services is driving forward better integration of policy, funding and delivery of children’s services. We also set up an inter-agency audit and review of child protection with the aim of reducing the number of children being abused and neglected and to improve services for those who have experienced abuse or neglect. The report will be published on 25 November and we will respond fully to any recommendations that are made.

Children's Panels

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-30597 by Cathy Jamieson on 29 October 2002, whether the "normal" upper age limit of 60 for recruitment as a member of a children's panel is discriminatory.

Cathy Jamieson: The age limit is applied flexibly in recognition of the recommendation of the Kilbrandon Committee that panel members should in broad terms be the peers in age of the parents of the children coming before the hearings.

  The application of age limits for panel member recruitment is not therefore discriminatory.

Citizens Advice Bureaux

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive which, and what percentage, of its publications produced by the Development Department from May 1999 to June 2002 refer people to the Citizens Advice Bureau service for advice and assistance and whether Citizens Advice Scotland is made aware of such referrals prior to publication.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Development Department issued three publications containing references to the Citizens Advice Bureau service during this period. In future the Executive will make Citizens Advice Scotland aware of any such future references prior to publication.

Citizens Advice Bureaux

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive which, and what percentage, of its publications produced by the Education Department from May 1999 to June 2002 refer people to the Citizens Advice Bureau service for advice and assistance and whether Citizens Advice Scotland is made aware of such referrals prior to publication.

Mr Andy Kerr: We have been unable to identify any publications produced by the Education Department from May 1999 to June 2002 which referred people to the Citizens Advice Bureau service. The Executive will make Citizens Advice Scotland aware of any such referrals prior to publication.

Citizens Advice Bureaux

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive which, and what percentage, of its publications produced by the Justice Department from May 1999 to June 2002 refer people to the Citizens Advice Bureau service for advice and assistance and whether Citizens Advice Scotland is made aware of such referrals prior to publication.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Justice Department have issued two publications which contain a reference to the Citizens Advice Bureau. In future the Executive will make Citizens Advice Scotland aware of any such future references prior to publication.

Citizens Advice Bureaux

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive which, and what percentage, of its publications produced by the Finance and Central Services Department from May 1999 to June 2002 refer people to the Citizens Advice Bureau service for advice and assistance and whether Citizens Advice Scotland is made aware of such referrals prior to publication.

Mr Andy Kerr: This information is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. However, you may wish to be aware that, as part of new procedures which are shortly to be put in place within the Executive, departments will be required to obtain prior written permission from any organisation to which readers of a publications are directed for further advice and to send them an advance copy of the publication for information.

Fisheries

Iain Smith (North-East Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of the Scottish fishing industry and what matters were discussed.

Ross Finnie: I met representatives of the Scottish fishing industry on 14 November to discuss forthcoming fisheries negotiations.

Forensic Science

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to review the provision of forensic pathology services to the procurator fiscal service.

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the Crown Office tendering process for forensic pathology services.

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will continue to provide regional services for forensic medicine across Scotland.

Mrs Elish Angiolini: The Crown Office currently contracts with the Universities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee for the provision of forensic pathology services across Scotland. Discussions are currently under way with service providers about future provision of services, which discussions are commercially confidential. As part of the process, however, the Crown has commissioned a detailed consultation exercise, involving all service providers, stakeholders and interested parties with a view to bringing all parties together to discuss and carve out a way forward that will meet future service needs and address the current concerns of service providers.

Gaelic Language (Scotland) Bill

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Bill introduced on 13 November 2002.

Mike Watson: The Scottish Executive recognises the aspiration for legislation within the Gaelic community but does not consider that the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Bill meets that aspiration; a formal response will be made within the normal parliamentary timetable.

Health

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current NHS prescription status is of the anti-depressant Seroxat.

Malcolm Chisholm: Seroxat is a prescription-only medicine available on the NHS.

Health

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has taken evidence from the World Health Organisation on possible side effects from the use of Seroxat.

Malcolm Chisholm: The regulation and safety of medicines is reserved and is the responsibility of the Medicines Control Agency (MCA).

  The MCA has online access to the World Health Organisation data on adverse drug reactions and routinely evaluates these data.

Health

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty’s Government on whether drug companies are, or should be, required to display on drugs packaging information on the possibility of addiction.

Malcolm Chisholm: All licensed medicines have an approved Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC), a document which is in the public domain and is provided to doctors and pharmacists. In addition, the patient information leaflet supplied with the medicine reflects the information that is in the SPC.

Health

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what restrictions it places on the use of potentially addictive medicines.

Malcolm Chisholm: As with all medicines, the decision whether or not to prescribe a treatment for an individual patient depends on the clinical judgement of the doctor concerned, in consultation with the patient and bearing in mind the risks and benefits of the treatment.

Housing

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether licenses for houses in multiple occupation (HMO) are being issued for properties for which appropriate planning permission has not also been sought.

Hugh Henry: It is for local licensing authorities to determine what conditions must be met before a licence for a house in multiple occupation is granted. HMO licensing and planning control are not linked in law and not all HMOs require planning permission. Some authorities require confirmation that the property has any necessary planning permission before granting an HMO licence, some grant conditional licences requiring that planning permission must be obtained, and others do not consider planning issues in the licensing process.

Individual Learning Accounts

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28852 by Iain Gray on 16 September 2002, why its use of Capita in a more limited role than other countries was "significant in respect of the suspension" of individual learning accounts.

Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-28852 on 13 September 2002, which explained that the significance of the Executive’s use of Capita in a more limited role related to the differing arrangements which applied for the registration of learning providers. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28916 by Ross Finnie on 25 September 2002, how the position set out in the answer is compatible with the proposed crofting community right to buy in the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill.

Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-30748 on 12 November 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Meat Industry

Alex Johnstone (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for ending the over 30-month rule on the slaughter of cattle.

Ross Finnie: The Food Standards Agency is currently undertaking a review of the over 30-month rule, under which the sale for human consumption of meat from cattle aged over 30 months at slaughter is prohibited. The review is expected to be completed in May 2003. The future of the Over Thirty Month Scheme will be examined in the light of advice from the agency on conclusion of their review.

National Parks

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the First Minister why the boundaries of the Cairngorms National Park have been drawn so as to exclude all parts of Perth and Kinross.

Mr Jack McConnell: The case for including the Highland Perthshire area was carefully considered. The area has much to offer in terms of high natural heritage value, recreational opportunities and wildlife. However, we felt that to include so extensive an area would reduce the clear focus and coherent identity of the park.

National Parks

Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the designation order for the Cairngorms National Park will adhere to the Sandford principles.

Allan Wilson: The issue of adhering to the Sandford Principles is dealt with in the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000. Section 9(6) of the act makes clear that, where it appears to the National Park Authority that there is conflict between the National Park aims, the authority must give greater weight to the aim of conserving and enhancing the natural and cultural heritage of the area.

Parliamentary Questions

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28026 by Mr Jim Wallace on 4 November 2002, why it took until that date to provide a substantive answer to the question, lodged on 30 July 2002.

Mr Jim Wallace: I am sorry for the delay in providing a substantive answer to the original question. This was due to a combination of inquiries being made and administrative oversight.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29472 by Mr Jim Wallace on 24 October 2002, whether it will publish its contract with Medacs before 1 May 2003.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  On present plans we anticipate that the necessary work involved will be completed before 1 May 2003.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31087 by Mr Jim Wallace on 8 November 2002, when it will know whether it will appoint an adviser for the procurement of its proposed private-build, private-operate prison and what the projected cost of such an appointment would be.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Once a detailed project plan and timetable for the procurement of the new private-build, private-operate prison has been completed. The cost would be the market price.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken in respect of the procurement of its proposed private-build, private-operate prison.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  The process for procurement of the new private-build, private-operate prison will not begin until the location of the new prison has been determined. A number of potential sites have been identified, but the SPS has not yet taken firm decisions.

Public Bodies

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation took place with the Scottish Libraries and Information Council with regard to the recent appointment of a new chair for that organisation.

Dr Elaine Murray: No consultation took place. The Scottish Libraries and Information Council is an independent organisation.

Public Bodies

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its organisational and financial relationship is with the Scottish Libraries and Information Council.

Dr Elaine Murray: The Scottish Libraries and Information Council (SLIC) is an independent organisation.

  In 2002-03 the Executive provided £160,000 towards SLIC’s annual operating costs, and an additional £25,000 for continued funding of Network Project Officers.

  SLIC will receive funding of £250,000 over two years from the Executive to develop a two-year pilot Scottish Cultural Portal project - a recommendation from the National Cultural Strategy; £70,000 in 2001-02, balance £180,000 in 2002-03.

Public Private Partnerships

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how all stakeholders will derive benefit from the ending of the two-tier workforce in new public private partnerships.

Mr Andy Kerr: As the Deputy First Minister said in his response to you on 14 November, workers will all be treated on an equal basis, which must be good for employee morale. That will in turn benefit the public in terms of the quality services that are delivered. The protocol will help to attract high-quality staff. The contractors have also bought into it. The protocol represents a genuine partnership and flows from our approach of attempting to achieve reform by building consensus. It demonstrates that agreements, such as our memorandum of understanding with the Scottish Trades Union Congress, can help to deliver tangible benefits and it is indicative of our commitment to improve the quality of public services.

Rail Network

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29377 by Hugh Henry on 11 October 2002, whether it will bring forward legislative proposals on the storage or placement of flammable or otherwise dangerous materials in proximity to a railway line or siding in the light of the recent disruption to rail services in Kirkcaldy following an explosion at an industrial estate and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Hugh Henry: The Scottish Executive has no plans at present to legislate in such a way. The Scottish Executive is of the view that the existing statutory controls on the storage or placement of flammable or otherwise dangerous materials are appropriate with regard to possible disruptions to rail services.

Recycling

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in encouraging recycling.

Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-30486 on 7 November 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Regional Selective Assistance

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that regional selective assistance funding contributes to its overall objectives of sustainability and closing the opportunity gap.

Lewis Macdonald: Regional selective assistance (RSA) plays a key role in meeting the Executive's commitment to closing the opportunity gap by helping to create and sustain jobs in the assisted areas of Scotland, thereby addressing areas of relatively high disadvantage and unemployment.

  This commitment has recently been further strengthened by a direct link with the New Deal scheme, under which firms can be offered a premium rate of grant as a targeted incentive to recruit and retain New Dealers.

  The Executive is also committed to sustainable development, and in the recent spending review we committed to assessing all RSA applications involving grant offers of £2 million and over against the Executive's sustainable development objectives.

Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it has provided to help (a) local authorities and (b) voluntary organisations meet the National Care Standards set in accordance with the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001.

Mr Frank McAveety: Responsibility for meeting the National Care Standards is a matter for individual providers in discussion and agreement with the Care Commission.

  The principal source of income to enable providers to meet regulatory standards is the fees they receive. The Scottish Executive is committed to implementing in full the recommendations of the National Review Group on care home fees. We have already committed £52.5 million since July 2001 for that purpose, and discussions are under way with the local authorities and the providers about the appropriate fee levels for 2003-04.

  There are also other Scottish Executive initiatives which will indirectly contribute to a provider’s ability to meet specific standards:

  Voluntary organisations can make applications to the Scottish Executive for funding under section 9 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act to help with training costs.

  Cathy Jamieson announced earlier this year an Action Plan for Social Services Workforce which included £3.5 million for local authorities in 2002-03 for training social services staff.

  An additional £9.2 million has been allocated for the expansion and development of the early years workforce from 2002-04. A further £6 million per annum is committed during the period 2004-06. This funding is allocated through child care partnerships, and can be used for workforce expansion and development in the local authority, private and voluntary sectors.

  The Care Commission has discretion in applying the standards, taking into account the nature of the services being provided. For example, in the case of care homes for older people, where existing provision cannot meet the standards but is otherwise of good quality, specific criteria may be agreed with the Care Commission officers to allow existing rooms to remain in use.

  In taking forward the development of the National Care Standards Scottish ministers have been mindful of the need to balance the user/improved quality of care focus of the standards with the need to recognise the commercial realities for providers. Likewise, in implementing the standards the Care Commission will aim to work in partnership with the providers to reach an agreed way forward.

Roads

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make available any economic assessments carried out on the proposed western peripheral route around Aberdeen, including assessments by enterprise companies.

Lewis Macdonald: The proposed Aberdeen Western Peripheral route is being promoted by Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council and the other NESTRANS partners. NESTRANS has commissioned STAG (Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance) appraisal of the route that incorporates economic, environmental, safety, accessibility and integration criteria. Publication of any economic assessment is a matter for the promoting organisations but I expect the STAG report to be made available.

Schools

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration will be given to the allocation of additional funding outwith the public private partnership initiative to local authorities to assist in the schools rebuilding and refurbishment programme.

Nicol Stephen: Local authorities already have access to substantial resources outwith the public private partnership arrangements which they can apply to rebuilding and refurbishing schools. These include the general resources available to them under the capital allocation arrangements, and capital grant under the School Buildings Improvement Fund totalling £26.7 million in the current year.

Scottish Executive Advertising

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28419 by Mr Andy Kerr on 11 September 2002, whether it will publish evidence and/or statistics on the effectiveness of the Learn to Let Go advertising campaign and whether it will place a copy of the evidence and/or statistics in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Mr Andy Kerr: Research on the effectiveness of the Learn to Let Go campaign has been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 25242).

Scottish Natural Heritage

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is with regard to the relocation of the headquarters of Scottish Natural Heritage to Inverness.

Allan Wilson: Scottish ministers are carefully considering the comprehensive report submitted by the Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) Board, which sets out possible relocation options for the SNH headquarter functions currently carried out in Edinburgh. Whilst Inverness is included in these relocation options, it is not the only one under consideration. A decision will be reached in accordance with the Scottish Executive’s published relocation policy and an announcement will be made in due course.

Scottish Transport Group Pension Schemes

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) widows, (b) widowers and (c) children of members of the Scottish Transport Group pension schemes have made applications for ex-gratia payments from the schemes.

Lewis Macdonald: Data is not held in the form requested. However, of the 10,515 payments made to date, 738 were made in situations where the original member shown in the 1993 data has died. Of these, 680 recipients are female and 58 male.

Social Economy

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what lessons it has learned from the work of Social Enterprise London.

Ms Margaret Curran: Many of the issues raised by the work of Social Enterprise London are addressed in the Executive's review of the social economy, which we aim to publish shortly.

Special Educational Needs

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 148 responses to Assessing our Schools - Assessing our Children's needs - The Way Forward? stated that the Record of Needs system should be replaced.

Cathy Jamieson: In response to the consultation document Improving our Schools - Assessing our Children's Educational Needs - The Way Forward? , the Scottish Executive received 119 responses which indicated dissatisfaction with the Record of Needs system and a further 21 responses which stated specifically that the Record of Needs should be replaced.

Special Educational Needs

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the existing level of needs matrix set out in the Manual of Good Practice will be revised and distributed to parents and young people in co-ordinated support plans.

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed co-ordinated support plans will specify the amount and quality of special needs provision for a child.

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether children and young people with specific or pronounced educational needs that require continuing review will be provided with a co-ordinated support plan.

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive under what timescales parents will be able to appeal against a co-ordinated support plan.

Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-30910 on 19 November 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

St Andrew's Day

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any events taking place overseas in celebration of St Andrew’s Day.

Mr Jack McConnell: St Andrew’s Day events are taking place across the globe - from Lima to Luanda, and from The Hague to Ho Chi Min City. There are thousands of Scots and people of Scottish ancestry around the world who will celebrate St Andrew’s Day with us. Therefore, through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, I have issued jointly with the Secretary of State for Scotland a St Andrew’s Day message, to the worldwide UK Embassy network, sending the warmest wishes from the people of Scotland to those gathered to celebrate the achievements of their country of birth and of their forefathers. The message will be read out at St Andrew’s Day events across the world.

Transport

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-15676 by Sarah Boyack on 11 July 2001, what steps it has taken to establish the views of the road haulage industry on measures to modernise the industry; what modernisation initiatives it has launched, and what resources have been allocated for such modernisation in (a) 2000-01, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2002-03.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the Road Haulage Association (RHA), the Freight Transport Association (FTA) and the Road Haulage and Distribution Training Council (RHDTC) to ensure that initiatives to be funded by the Scottish Road Haulage Modernisation Fund (RHMF) will meet the needs of the industry.

  The CleanUp Scotland initiative was launched this week. The initiative, part-funded with £1 million from the Scottish RHMF, will help improve Scotland's air quality and will also reduce costs for vehicle operators. It is expected that further schemes aimed at attracting new drivers to the industry, and improving efficiency across the sector, will be announced before the end of the financial year.

  No final decisions have been taken on the funding requirements for the training element of the RHMF.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Parliamentary Committees

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer how a balance is achieved in public seating in committee meetings between members of the public and civil servants supporting ministers and, if a member of the public arrives at such a meeting having booked a seat and the public seating area is fully occupied by civil servants, what rights the member of the public has to the pre-booked seat.

Sir David Steel: Committee Clerks liaise with Executive Officials with regard to the size of the public gallery in the relevant committee room and the corresponding appropriate number of Scottish Executive officials that might be accommodated. Committee Clerks advise Participation Services of the number of attendees that they expect for any meeting, including officials and witnesses. The relevant numbers of public seats are then made available by Participation Services for booking. Arrangements for access to the rooms on the day are managed by security in order to accommodate all known pre-bookings. Anyone with a pre-booked seat will be given preference over anyone who turns up without having pre-booked.

  The three staff teams work together to maximise public access and to ensure that an appropriate balance is achieved between seats for the press, the public (as witnesses or as observers) and officials. All parties and members are encouraged to keep the number of officials attending in a support role to the necessary minimum.